The artistic achievements of China are unparalleled and are all described here in expert entries. Famous monuments such as the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Great Wall are given their due, but so too are lesser-known yet breathtaking sculptures, palaces, tombs and monasteries. We marvel at the landscape, the splendours of the old imperial cities as well as their fast-growing modern counterparts, Shanghai and Beijing, with their dazzling skyscrapers.
The wonders of China reach into everyday life. The Chinese invented paper, printing, the compass, and such objects as umbrellas and playing cards. China’s food is celebrated here in all its diversity, as is the heritage of the imperial system that ruled the Middle Kingdom for more than 2,000 years.
Contributors
MapofChina
Chronology
Introduction
Natural Wonders
Introduction
1 Mountains
2 Guilin
3 The Yangtze River
4 TheYellow River
5 Deserts
6 The Silk Road
7 Yunnan
8 Northern Grasslands&Pastures
9 Wildlife
10 Trees&Flowers
People & Life
Introduction
11 The Han
12 The Imperial System & its Downfall
13 Philosophy
14 Religion
15 Taiji &the Dao
16 Martial Arts
17 Ethnic Minorities
18 TheTarimMummies
19 Circuses&Acrobats
20 Agriculture
21 Food & Alcoholic Drinks
Cities & Towns
Introduction
22 Imperial Beijing
23 The Forbidden City
24 The Summer Palace
25 The Temple of Heaven
26 Beijing Today
27 Shanghai -'Paris of the Orient'
28 Shanghai Today
29 Hangzhou
30 Suzhou
31 Xi'an
32 Nanjing
33 Shenyang
Monuments & Buildings
Introduction
34 Domestic & Religious Architecture
35 The Tomb ofthe First Emperor
36 The Great Wall
37 The Ming Tombs
38 Leshan Great Buddha & Caves
39 Labrang Yellow Hat Monastery
40 Great Monuments of Tibet
41 The Grand Canal
42 Buddhist Cliff Carvings at Dazu
43 Modern Buildings & Infrastructure
The Arts
introduction
44 Bronze Work
45 Jade
46 Calligraphy
47 The Orchid Pavilion Preface
48 Literature
49 Music & Beijing Opera
50 Painting
51 Porcelain
52 Lacquer Work
53 Sculpture
54 Silk Work
55 Furniture
56 Gardens
Inventions & Achievements
Introduction
57 Science
58 Astronomy
59 Paper& Printing
60 Medicine
61 The Decimal System & Abacus
62 The Compass, Navigation &Junks
63 Bridges
64 The ArtofWar
65 Gunpowder
66 Everyday Objects
67 The HistoryofTea
Greater China
Introduction
68 Hong Kong&Macau
69 Taiwan
70 Overseas Chinese
